Ventura County Biographies
A. Woolever
Submitted by Sandy Neder
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
A. Woolever is a pioneer of California, having resided in the State continuously
for the last thirty years. He was born in New York, February 24, 1820, the son
of Samuel Woolever, a native of Pennsylvania, one of that hardy race of
well-to-do people, the Pennsylvania Dutch. His mother's maiden name was Effie
Glaspie, a native of New Jersey, daughter of William Glaspie, a valiant soldier
in the Continental Army. They were of Scotch ancestry.
At the age of nine years Mr. Woolever was cast upon his own resources; so
that hard work interfered with his getting a liberal education, and his
opportunities in that direction were limited. In 1845 he removed to Illinois,
and, after years of hard work he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land, on
which he built a home and lived until 1860, when he sold out and came to
California. He first lived in El Dorado two years, then removed removed to Yolo
County, where he bought 160 acres of improved land. This he sold in 1864 and
went to Gilroy, Santa Clara County, bought a house and lot and lived there seven
years, doing some speculating and other business. He sold that and purchased a
ranch of fifty acres, three miles west of Santa Paula, on which he made many
improvements. Mrs. Woolever is entitled to the honor of planting the large grove
of eucalyptus trees, now about 100 feet high, and many of the other fruit trees
on the property. She says that her greatest regret in parting with the place was
having to leave that fine grove. Mr. Woolever has bought property in Santa
Paula, a very pleasant home with large yard and garden, where he has retired
from active business, and is living upon what he has saved in a life of frugal
industry. His time is occupied in his garden and in the cultivation of the
flowers and shrubs which beautify his home.
In 1844 Mr. Woolever was united in marriage to Miss Maria Sovereign, a
native of New York, and daughter of Richard Sovereign, of New Jersey. Of the
nine children born to them, five are living. Those born in Illinois are: Samuel,
in 1850; Izettus, 1852; and Mary j., 1858. Louisa was born in California, and is
now at home with her parents. Politically, Mr. Woolever is a Republican. He has
never sought or held office, but has often served as a member of school boards.
Mrs. Woolever is a member of the Presbyterian Church. She has the old family
Bible which she brought with her and read on their long and tedious journey
across the plains. She says when it was not in her lap it was under her feet, in
the wagon, where she could easily get it.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS
OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 460